Means for and method of circulating inert gas in a refrigerating system



y 1952 c. T. ASHBY ETAL 2,603,955

MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF CIRCULATING INERT GAS IN A REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed April 14, 1948 INVENTORS Oar/Z 7M6 M1 BY 64ml. 4. 'm

l e ATORNEY the evaporator.

Patented July 22, 1952 MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF CIRCULAT- ING INERT GAS IN j-REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Carl T. Ashby and CharlesArMiller, Evansville, I Inrl., assignors to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationApril 14, 1948, Serial No. 21,044

Our invention relates to refrigeration, and more particularly to gravity circulation of an inert pressure-equalizing gas in a three-fluid absorption refrigeration system. I a This application relates back for common sub' ject matterto, and is filed as a continuationin-part of, our copending, but now abandoned application Serial No. 559,367, filed October 19,

In a gravity flow absorption refrigeration system of the three-fluid type; that is, a system charged with a. refrigerant such as ammonia,- an absorbent such as water. and a pressure-equalizinggassuch as hydrogen, and wherein the pressure-equalizing gas circulates by gravity between the evaporator andthe absorber, it: is

necessaryv to insure thatthe flow of pressureequalizing gas be startedin the proper direction.

"The circulation of the pressure-equalizing gas in such a system is causedby the fact that there are two columns of gas of unequal Weight between the evaporator and absorber. One column contains hydrogen weak in ammonia and is relatively light; the r other column contains hydrogen rich in ammonia and is relatively heavy.

The heavy column over-balances the light column which causesthe rich gas to flow downward from the evaporator toward the absorber and the weak gas to flow upward from the absorber toward the evaporator. L

When such a system is first charged with a pressure-equalizing, gas, or after such a system hasbeen standing idle for an appreciable time. the evaporator, absorber and interconnected conduits'forming the gas circuit all contain a gas ofvsubstantially the same composition. There-- fore, when such a system is put into operation, the gas will circulate in onedirection or another depending upon which side ofthe. gas circuit is first weighted with refrigerant, in other words,

upon which of the two gas columns first receives a rich gas and over-balances the" other column which contains weak gas.

It has been proposed heretofore ;to initiate the circulation of inert gas by vaporizing, in the-gas circuit, a portion of the liquid ammonia en .route iron; the condenser to the evaporator before such refrigerant reaches the evaporator proper. ,Such an arrangement -is satisfactory under most conditions .of operation. :The liquidammonia so vaporized isuseful not only in initiating the circulation of inert gas in the pr oper direction, it is also useful in that it precools the remainder of the liquid ammonia before such liquid reaches f6 Claims. (01.- 62-1195) In refrigerating systems of the above type a. conduit is provided for conveying refrigerant vapor from the generator to the upper or inlet end of the condenser. This conduit, which acts as a rectifier, may be simply a' straight pipe that connects the vapor outlet of the generator to the vapor inlet of the condenser, or, in-some instances, this conduit may be increased in length by providing offset portions therein, which offset portions may or may not'be provided withheat transfer fins depending upon the locationof the conduit and the manner in which;the conduit iscooled. In anyevent, rectification ofthe ammonia vapor takes place in substantiallythe entire length of this conduit. 'In the rectifier conduit some ammonia vapor condenses along with the water vapor. The proportion of liquid ammoniato water in the .rectifier condensate increases along-the length of the rectifier with 2c the result that the condensate formed in the upper part of the rectifier contains. a relatively high amount of liquid ammonia.

In accordance with our invention, a trap is provided in an upper portion of the rectifier conduit and condensate that forms above the trap drains into. the latter. The condensate collected in the trap is conveyed to a portion of the-gas circuit, preferably to the upper portion of the gas heat exchanger, wherein inert gas rich in refrigerant is. intended to flow downward. How- ,ever, as stated. above, when the system is first gas is hydrogen-relatively weak in ammonia.

Therefore, upon starting the system the liquid ammonia-contained in the rectifier condensate that is conveyed from the rectifier trap .tofthe upper portion of the gas heat exchanger, evap0- rates and diffuses into,therelatively weak gas with the result that the gas is loaded with heavy ammonia vapor and the heavy gas flows downward through the-gas heat exchanger- It ,wil1 be notedthatin accordance with our invention, gas circulation is initiated in a desired directionby thevaporization of rectifier condensate in the gas circuit even before-ammonia vapor is. delivered to the condenser. Therefore, by the time ammonia vapor has been liquefied in the condenser and delivered therefrom to the evaporator, the circulation of gas will have been firmly established and the liquid ammonia vaporizes and diffuses into the circulating gas in the evaporator without disturbing the circulation of such gas. On the other hand, as has been proposed heretofore, where the circulation of gas is initiated by the vaporization of a portion of the liquid ammonia en route from the condenser to the evaporator, such circulation is started; only afew seconds before liquid ammonia delivered tothe evaporator. In which case, liquid ammonia is apt to reach the evaporator and oppose the circulation of gas bfQl':6

circulation thereof has been firmly established.

The above and other objectsmndadvantages.

of our invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the followmg description and accompanying drawing; wherein;

the single figure diagrammatically illustratesone embodiment of our invention.

Referring now to the drawing our improved conduit H with thetupper endof a pipe coil 11B; of

the cool-ing unit orrevaporatorrlfi. The lower, end otcoil IB is' connected to the upper endbf outer space 20 f: a gasiheat, exchangerrZl'. -The evaporator I 19' is disposed within a refrigerator cabinet 32. connected also by a conduit: 36; pressure vessel 3 rand a conduit-3.8 to an inner conduitzl i of; the 'gas'hea'texchanger. Refrigerantivapormot liquefied in the condenser fiows throughconduit. 3.6: to

di'spl-ace' inert pressuriz -equalizing gas in pressure.

vessel -31 and force said gas through conduit-.68 into the gas circuit, thereby increasingithedlotal pressure in the entire system to insure condensatron "Off refrigerant vaporin condenser 15.3

The'upper end or an absorber'coil 7.2:is-con-' neotedto-the outer space 2Lof the: gas heatexchanger, while the lower end-of coil ZZ communi- 'eates'with the upper part'of a vessel 23; Inner conduit24 of the gas heat exchanger extends The outlet endaiof condenser. x18;

"from the upper end-of vessel 23:through' the heat G5 exchanger and communicates withthe upper'end 0f evaporator coil 18. Conduit 2.4isprovided with an enlargedportion i l-"which forms the upper 'endof gas heat exchanger 2 I A condui-tfifi exumas from the lower-part of vessel 23'through'a 3255 heat exchanger26 and communicates with thelower endof a coil 2T which is in heatexchange relation with generator flue It. The uppere'nd or this coil isconnected by-a"conduit 23 29 connects 'the lower partof the; generator with theouter passage 30 of liquid heat'exohanger 26, while a conduit 3| connectsthe other end ofp'assage 3 0 with the upper partof ab'sorber coil 22.

" In accordance-with our invention, a trap orvesi365 opens into the enlarged portion 24 of'gas heat exchanger 2 l.

The operation otthe; above-described system is asfollows: Thesystem-is charged with a solution extends from the lower portion of vessel-33 and of refrigerant, such as ammonia, dissolved in an absorbent such as water, and with an inert pressure-equalizing gas such as hydrogen. The application of heat to the solution in the generator causes expulsion of refrigerant vapor therefrom, which vapor flows through conduit M to the upper. end of condenser,l5.,..-;Some water vapor is also expelled along withthis' refrigerant vapor. However, the water vapor and part of the refrigerant vapor expelled from the generator are condensed in. the rectifier pipe [4 and rectifier condensate' formed above vessel 33 drains into the latter and is conveyed by conduit 34 into the enlarged portion 24 of the gas heat exchanger 2|. In otherwords, when the system is first started, condensaterich liquid refrigerant is conveyed into'the-gasheatexchanger. The liquid refrigerant vaporizesand diffuses into the weak pressureequalizing gas contained in the gas heat exchanger with the result that the Weight of the gas is increased which initiates the circulation nfzzthe. pressure-equalizing-gas downward through the inner: passage- 24. of the? gas: heat exchanger. upward through absorber '22, upward through the outer passage 20 of the gas heat exchanger, into the lower portion of' evaporator coil l8", upward through'said coil andth'en downwardthrough connecti'onid completing'rthe :gas circuit Thus the, circulation of" pressure-equalizing gasis started in the desired direction through thegas circuit before any liquid refrigerant reaches; the evaporator; 'Iherectified ammonia vapor flows from theupperendofconduit 1:4.into. the condenser-:1 5=wherein thez-vapor isdiquefied-and theliquidammonia flows through 1 conduit l-I: to the. upper; :endxof pipe .coil:i3 of :the evaporation-Inert; gas weak iii-refrigerant, as previouslysexplained, flows into therlower: end: of coil '1 from. the outerspac'e' 20, of heat exchanger 21. v".Eheliquid andqgasaflo'w in counter-current relation in-:ooil'-'l8 and the rator. coil 18. flows out through the upper en'dbf said coil into conduit 24 of the gas he'at" ex- 1 changenfrom whencecitfipasses thro'ugl'i the upperpart OfTTVBSSBlZS to'the lower endof absorber In the absorber the richgas" mixture'is brought into intimate-contact'with absorption liquid weak in refrigerant which is introduced into the upper part of theab'sorber through conduit 3 l The absorption liquidialrsorbs' refrigerant from: the inert gas and the latter flows from the absorber through space-2130f gas heat exchanger 2l'to'the-lower, end of evaporator coil'l8. The richxabsorption .solution'formed in absorber12 2 flowsxtherefrom'into vessel 23and thence through th conduit 2'5tolth'e lower end of'coil 21. The application of heat to this coil "raises liquid throughconduit 28"by vapor liftaction to the 'upper-part of generator Ill) Within the generator further heat is supplied tdth solution' which results inexpulsion of refrigerantvaporfrom solution, as previously explained. Absorption solution weak in refrigerant flows" by gravity throughc'onduits2'9i30and 35 to the upperpart of'the absorber coil.' i

After the system has been in operation for1a time, the pressure-equalizing gas leaving theupper portion of the evaporator and flowingdownward through theinner passage 24 of the gas heat exchanger will be relatively rich in ammonia vapor, andthe condensate conveyed from vessel 33 through conduit 34 into the upperportion' of the gas heat exchanger will have a lower partial pressure of ammonia than when the system is first started. If the partial pressures are so related that evaporation does not occur, the condensate will be delivered as such into the vessel 23. If these two partial pressures are so related that evaporation occurs in the gas heat exchanger, the refrigerating effect of this evaporation will be useful because it cools the weak inert gas flowing from the absorber through the outer space of the gas heat exchanger to the evaporator.

While we have illustrated and described but one specific'form of our invention, it is to be understood that our invention may take other forms. Therefore, our invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerating system including a generator, a rectifier, a condenser, an evaporator and an absorber, a first circuit including said generator, rectifier, condenser, evaporatorand absorber for flow of a refrigerating medium therethrough, a second circuit including said evaporator and absorber for gravity flow of an inert pressure-equalizing medium therethrough in counterflow relation with said refrigerating medium, a third circuit including said generator and said absorber for flow of an absorption medium therethrough, a connection between said first and second circuits for flow of refrigerant-absorbent solution from the rectifier to a portion of said second circuit leading from the evaporator to the absorber to initiate the flow of pressure-equalizing medium through said second circuit in a predetermined direction, and means in said inert gas circuit between the evaporator and the absorber to cause inert gas flowing from the evaporator to the absorber to be Weighted by the refrigerant-absorbent solution flowing into said inert gas circuit.

2. In an absorption refrigerating system of the uniform pressure type, a refrigerant circuit i.ncluding a generator, a rectifier, a condenser, an evaporator and an absorber, an inert gas circuit including said evaporator, a gas heat exchanger and said absorber, a. solution circuit including said generator and said absorber, and a conduit connecting said rectifier to a portion of said inert gas circuit between the evaporator and the gas heat exchanger through which inert gas flows from the evaporator to the absorber, the construction and arrangement of said inert gas circuit and said connecting conduit being such that refrigerant-absorption solution flows from the rectifier into the inert gas circuit so as to initiate flow of inert gas between the evaporator and the absorber in a predetermined direction.

In an absorption refrigerating system, a

generator, a rectifier, a condenser, an evaporator, a gas heat exchanger and an absorber interconnected by conduits to form a complete circuit, and an additional conduit connected between said rectifier and said gas h at excha g or flow of refrigerant-absorbent solution from said rectifier into said gas heat exchanger.

4. In the art of refrigeration with a system in which refrigerant fluid is separated from absorption liquid by vaporization and rectification and in which inert gas is circulated by gravity in counter-flow relation to the refrigerant fluid, the improvement which includes initiating a circulation of inert gas in the system by introducing rectifier condensate into a portion of the system which normally contains inert gas rich in refrigerant to thereby weight such inert gas and cause circulation thereof in a predetermined direction, and thereafter introducing refrigerant fluid into the circulated inert gas for evaporation and diffusion into the gas.

5. A method of refrigeration which includes expelling a refrigerant vapor out of a refrigerantabsorbent solution, rectifying the refrigerant vapor, initiating circulation of a pressure-equalizing gas in a pressure-equalizing gas circuit in counter-flow relation to subsequent flow of a refrigerant fluid in said circuit by flowing at least a part of the condensate resulting from the rectification of the refrigerant vapor into the pressureequalizing gas circuit between a place of evaporation and a place of absorption, subsequently liquefying the rectified refrigerant vapor, evaporating the liquid refrigerant into the circulating pressure-equalizing gas, and. absorbing the evaporated refrigerant back into the absorbent solution.

6.'A method of refrigeration which includes expelling refrigerant vapor from a refrigerantabsorbent solution, flowing the expelled vapor to a place of liquefaction, condensing a portion of the expelled vapor en route to the place of liquefaction Whereby the vapor is rectified, initiating circulation of inert gas in an inert gas circuit in counter-flow relation to subsequent fiow of liquid refrigerant in said circuit by flowing the condensate produced by the rectification of the vapor into contact with the inert gas to cause evaporation of the condensate into the inert gas whereby the inert gas is weighted and flows downward in one side of the gas circuit, subsequently condensing the rectified vapor to liquid in the place of liquefaction, and flowing the liquid into the circulated inert gas in counter-flow relation thereto to cause evaporation of the liquid.

CARL T. ASHBY.

CHARLES A. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,229,687 Thomas Jan. 28, 1941 2,278,661 Lenning et a1 Apr. 7, 1942 2,315,356 Sied1e Mar. 30, 1943 2,463,409 Moody Mar. 1, 1949 2,484,669 Backstrom Oct. 11, 1949 

